Groundbreaking Sanskrit mantras from ancient Hindu scriptures reverberated in Colorado House of Representatives in Denver today, reportedly for the first time in its history.
Hindu statesman Rajan Zed read this prayer. Representatives and others stood quietly in prayer mode with heads bowed down, when Zed recited from ancient Sanskrit scriptures after sprinkling gangajal (holy water from river Ganga in India) around the podium.
“It is a day of honour for us when ancient Sanskrit scriptures are being read in this great hall of democracy,” Zed said before the House prayer. After Sanskrit delivery, Zed then read the English translation of the prayer. Sanskrit is considered sacred language in Hinduism and root language of Indo-European languages.
Rajan Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, recited from Rig-Veda, the oldest scripture of the world still in common use, dated from around 1,500 BCE, besides lines from Upanishads and Bhagavad-Gita (Song of the Lord), both ancient Hindu scriptures. He started and ended the prayer with “Om”, the mystical syllable containing the universe, which in Hinduism is used to introduce and conclude religious work.
Reciting from Brahadaranyakopanishad, Zed said, “Asato ma sad gamaya, Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya, Mrtyor mamrtam gamaya”, which he then translated as “Lead us from the unreal to the Real, from darkness to Light, and from death to Immortality.” Reciting from Bhagavad-Gita, he urged Representatives to keep the welfare of others always in mind.
House speaker Terrance D. Carroll, introduced Zed and later told him personally that he was glad that Zed came to pray. Zed presented Carroll a copy of Bhagavad-Gita. Purnima Voria, President of National US India Chamber of Commerce; and Vishwanatha Dileep Cherlopalle, a Civil Engineer; who attended the prayer, said that it was a wonderful feeling to hear from ancient Sanskrit scriptures in the House of Representatives and they felt honoured.
Rajan Zed is one of the panellists for “On Faith”, a prestigious interactive conversation on religion produced jointly by Newsweek and washingtonpost.com. He has been awarded “World Interfaith Leader Award” by National Association of Interchurch and Interfaith Families.
Colorado House of Representatives is composed of 65 members, with each district having a population of about 71,000. Colorado has the highest mean elevation of any state of USA; with more than 1,000 rocky peaks over 10,000 ft high and 54 towering above 14,000 ft. Breathtaking scenery and world-class skiing make Colorado a prime tourist destination.
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